Katherine McNamara is an American actress who rose to fame playing the roles of Clary Fray in the Freeform fantasy series “Shadowhunters” and Mia Smoak in the CW superhero series “Arrow.”
McNamara was born in 1995 and had an unusual education compared to most children. Her academic giftedness resulted in a mostly homeschooled education, and she graduated from high school at 14. By 17, she had graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Drexel University.
Early in her acting career, McNamara appeared on Broadway with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in the revival of “A Little Night Music.” She then had guest roles on “Law & Order: SVU,” “30 Rock,” “and Drop Dead Diva,” before co-starring in the film “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.”
At the age of 19, McNamara received her big break when she landed the role of Clary Fray in “Shadowhunters.” She credits it as what ultimately shaped her as an actress.
In an October 2022 interview with W Magazine, she said, “I learned technically and artistically how to make a television show on ‘Shadowhunters,’ and I also learned [...] how to create that family on set and an energy where people are excited to come to work, even if it’s three in the morning, we’re covered in blood, it’s raining, and we’ve been crying for 10 hours. That is the magic I’ve always tried to take into any project.”
McNamara currently stars as Abby Walker in the CW drama “Walker Independence,” a prequel to “Walker” that is set in the late 19th century.
In addition to her acting career, McNamara has dedicated much of her time to charity work. She has been a spokesperson for Stomp Out Bullying and worked with the Lollipop Theater Network, visiting children who are confined to hospitals. She has been a strong supporter of the MS Society, volunteers for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and is a lifetime Girl Scout.
McNamara is also a recording artist. Her song “Glass Slipper” was used as part of the campaign for the United Nations Girl Up program. Proceeds from her song “Just Like James” were donated to the World Health Organization for COVID-19 relief efforts. She has also supported the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.